South Australian pro motocross/supercross rider Shane Metcalfe has been appointed agent for Yamaha Australian Institute of Motocross for South Australia and Northern Territory and will also manager for the South Australian arm of the Yamaha Junior Development Team.
24-year-old Metcalfe, a 20 year veteran of the Australian motocross scene, makes the switch to Yamaha from Honda in 2007 as his current team, Team 07 Racing, has signed a deal to campaign the Blue bikes for 2007. his team-mates will be
Tom Jones,
Bronte Holland,
Kirk Gibbs and
Shaun Williamson.
Yamaha Australian Institute of Motocross (or Y-AIM) has been implemented to further increase the frequency and level of rider training available.
Yamaha stated that the Y-AIM agents have been carefully selected to build on the commitment by Yamaha to continue to provide safe and effective training for riders of all brands of dirt bikes, and cater for the new compulsory training required by Motorcycling Australia.
Metcalfe will also mentor and manage Yamaha Junior Development Team (YJDT) riders
Callan Dickson,
Mitchell Norris,
Codey Von Stanke. 15-year-old Dickson hails from Port Lincoln and is a the current Junior Supercross Lites champion as well as a South Australian state title holder. 13-year-old Norris is also a state title holder and will campaign in the 85cc and a 125cc classes, whilst Codey Von Stanke from Carpenter Rocks has six titles to his name and will race the Yamaha YZ 250F alongside Norris.
"The new deal with Yamaha is a great opportunity and an exciting step into the future for me," Metcalfe told Fullnoise.
"I have been out testing the new YZ450F and had my first win at the SA Open Stadium Motocross event last weekend so i am stoked on the bike and also looking forward to getting back up to the Pro Open class after spending last year in the Pro Lites. I feel confident and am as fit as ever so it's going to be a big year in racing for me and the team."
"My new roles with Y-AIM and YJDT are also pretty exciting. They are both roles i am really looking forward to getting into. I have always liked the role of mentor and coach and get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing someone benefit through my knowledge. The Junior Team and Y-AIM are a great opportunity's and definitely a big part of my future, both now and after racing," he added.
Metcalfe has recently re-developed his website and there is a load of information about him, his schools and the Yamaha Junior Development Team. You can find it at
https://www.shanemetcalfe.com 
